Convertible fireplace structure



Nov. 29, 1932. w, NAFTAL ET AL 1,889,103

CONVERTIBLE FIREPLACE STRUCTURE Filed July 7, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 I NVENTO 2044122571 2 171.)" 7

ATTORNEYJ Nov- 29, 193 w. NAFTAL. ET AL.

CONVERTIBLE FIREILACE STRUCTURE Filed Jul 7, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTOR Nov. 29, 1932. TAL ET A 1,889,103

CONVERTIBLE FIREPLACE STRUCTURE Filed July 7, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 UMPIWQ BY Wk Patented Nov. 29, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WESLEY NAFTAL AND MILTON ENSLER, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNORS TO MANTLBAB- CORPORATION, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK CONVERTIBLE FIREPLACE STRUCTURE Application filed July 7, 1930. Serial No. 466,008.

The invention relates to improvements in convertible fireplace structure and more particularly to a novel construction and arrangement of parts of such a'structure which enables the converting of the fireplace into a refreshment bar.

In apartments and small homes where the rooms are limited in area and the space available is adequate'to hold only the necessary furniture, it is often quite a problem to provide a storage space for foods or refreshments or for suitable Ineansupon which such food or refreshments may be served.

' It is the special object of our present invention to provide a structure simulating an open fireplace which takes up very little space in a room and which can be readily and uickly converted into a bar or table when esired, upon which refreshments may be served.

A further object ofthe invention is to provide said convertible fireplace structure with suitable compartments in which food and refreshments may be stored.

Other objects and purposes of the invention than those specifically enumerated will be apparent as understanding is had of the construction .illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which,

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of our convertible fireplace structure;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the same showing the fireplace structure converted into a refreshment bar; 7

Fig. 3 is an enlarged elevational view of the refreshment bar of the structure taken from the rear of same;

Fi 4 is a side elevational view of the converti le fireplace construction with the bar in its closed position;

Fig. 5 is a front elevational view of the upper portion of the convertible fireplace construction with the front panel of same in open position;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged broken elevational view showing the electrical connections mounted in the interior of the upper left hand portion of the upper portion of the con vertible fireplace;

Fig. 7 is a sectional view of Fig. 6 taken on the line 77 looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 8 is a sectional View of Fig. 7 taken on the line 88 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Like reference characters refer to like parts throughout the several views of the drawlngs.

The convertible fireplace structure comprises an upper cabinet section designated generally at 1, and a lower fireplace section distinguished in the drawings generally by the numeral 2. The upper cabinet section 1 is constructed so as to form a compartment having the side panels 3 and 4, the rear panel 5, the top 6 and the bottom 7. It is also provided with a front panel 8 which is adapted to open and slide into the upper part of the compartment as will be more fully explained hereinafter. The upper cabinet section is designed to simulate the upper portion of a fire place and is adapted to be rigidly secured to the wall of a room by any suitable means.

The lower or fireplace section 2 is constructed with the paneled compartments 9 and 10 having the side panels 11, 11, 12, 12 and the front panels 13, 13. Each of compartments 9 and 10 is provided with a base portion having the front panels 14, 14. and the side panels 15, 15 and 16, 16. Compartments 9 and 10 are spaced from each other at their top portions by the cover 17 and at the lower base portion by means of the bottom panel 18. Mounted on the front panels of the base portions are the railings or bars 19.

Mounted in the bottom panel 18 are the rollers or casters 20 which enables the lower section to be rolled away from the upper cabinet section 1.

The opening between'the two spaced compartments 9 and 10 is designed to simulate a fireplace opening and when the fireplace is in closed position imitation fire lo s or other suitable imitations of coal or log fires may be placed in said opening to give the effect of a real fire burning in said fireplace.

By reason of the construction of the paneled compartments 9 and 10, as above described, it is apparent that each of said compartments is open at its rear side as shown in Fig. 3. These open compartments may be subdivided with shelves in any suitable manner. One form of division is shown in Fig. 3 where the shelves 21, 22, 23 and 24 are provided.

The lower section 2 is connected at its up per end to the cabinet section 1, by means of the folding arms 25 and 25" which are hinged together by a suitable hinge 25*, said hinges allowing said arms to fold downwardly when the section 2 is pushed toward the upper section. The arms 25" may be hinged to the under side of the bottom panel 7 of the upper cabinet section 1, by means of the hinges 26, 26, (see Figs. 2 and The arm is p votally secured at the ends of the lower section 2 by any suitable means such as is indicated at 27.

Pivotally secured to arms 25 and 25" are the side arms 27 a which form a brace for said arms when they are in open position. The free ends of the side arms 27 are provided with a suitable catch mechanism which is adapted to detachably engage a suitable lug 27 mounted on the side panels 11, 11 of the lower section 2.

The compartment formed by the construction of the upper cabinet section 1, may be suitably subdivided by'shelving and part1- tions suitable for holding or separating various forms of refreshments, foods and dishes, etc. One form of arrangement of the subdivision of this compartment is illustrated in Fig. 5 wherein there is provided the shelves 31 supported by the posts 30 and 31 and the compartments 32 and 33 subdivided by the artitions 34 and 35. The open compartment iietween the shelving is provided with a mirror 36 mounted on the inside of the rear panel 5.

The front panel 8 of the upper cabinet section is pivotally secured at its upper side portion to a guide way 37 and is provided along its sides with guides 38 adapted to ride in said guide ways. When the panel 8 is pivotally swung upwardly so that its guides 38 register with said guide ways it may be pushed inside of the compartment formed by the construction of the upper cabinet section.

Mounted on the inside faces of the side panels 3 and 4 of the upper cabinet section are the electric light sockets 39, 39 which are connected with a suitable source of electric current. The bulbs 40, 40, are adapted to be received by said sockets.

Mounted on the inside face of the rear panel 5 of the upper cabinet section are the push button contacts 41, 41, which are connectedin the electrical circuit supplying the current to the sockets 39. The push button contacts are mounted so that normally the circuit to the sockets is broken and are positioned so that where the anel 8 is pushed back into the upper part of the cabinet along the guide way 37 the upper edge of said panel will abut against said push button and depress the same so that the electrical circuit supplyingcurrent to the sockets 39 will be closed and the electrical lights will light up.

From the above description will be apparent that the convertible fireplace structure of our invention can be readily placed in a room of any character and it will take up a comparatively small space therein. The outside panelling can be made of any desired ornamentation to correspond with the furnishings or decorations 0f the room, and the general appearance of the structure will be that of the ordinary fireplace. However, the upper cabinet section can be utilized to store food or refreshments and such plates, glasses or other crockery as the user may desire and when it is desired to use the lower section as a bar or table all that is necessary is to pull said section away from the upper section until the folding arms 25 and 25" straighten out. The arms are then locked in their straightened out position by means of the side brace bars 27.

The front panel 8 of the upper section can then be readily swung open and when in its open position the interior thereof is lighted up by-the electric lamp therein so that the various articles stored therein are easily seen.

WVhen it is desired to reconvert the structure into the simulation of a fireplace all that is necessary is to release the side brace bars from their catches, shove the bar or table towards the upper cabinet section and pull the panel back to its closed position.

What we seek to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

A mantelpiece buffet comprising an upper section and a lower section, said upper section provided with means for supporting it in a position spaced from a floor or other support sufficiently to allow the lower section to stand thereunder, said upper section having an open front closed by a door consisting of a panel, said lower section comprising compartment elements having opaque walls open at the rear and connected together at their upper ends by means forming a table, and ad ustment means connecting the upper and lower sections, whereby the lower section may be disposed below the upper section, the whole assembly simulating a mantelpiece, or may be moved forwardly and held spaced therefrom in fixed relation. In testimony whereof we have hereunto set our hands on this 27 day of June A. D., 1930.

WESLEY NAFTAL. MILTON ENSLER. 

